Chiropodial device



June 13, 1950 M. w. CLARKE 2,511,101

CHIROPODIAL DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1948 INVENTOR.

Maurie; M Clarke Mivr/wy Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE CHIROPODIAL DEVICE Maurice Wright Clarke, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,662

3 Claims.

This invention relates to chiropodial devices and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind adapted to be adjustably mounted on the sole of a shoe or the like and to extend upwardly therefrom between the great toe and the second toe of a foot in order to urge the great toe away from the second toe into normal position thereby gradually to eliminate a painful bunion caused by an abnormal position of the great toe with respect to the second toe.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved chiropodial device, whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating in perspective a shoe equipped with a device constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing in broken outline a foot in the shoe;

Figure 2 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, a portion only of the shoe sole being shown.

The chiropodial device herein embodies comprises a spindle provided with a journal H on one of its end portions and a kerf [2 in its other end portion. The spindle portion located adjacent to the journal II is provided with an outside thread I3 and a short tapped sleeve I4 is threadedly mounted on the threaded spindle portion 13. An upwardly projecting finger I5 is secured to and extends radially of the sleeve 14 and is covered with a soft resilient material I6 such as rubber or the like.

A shoe S, sandal or the like is provided with a sole B. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings the sole B is shown as consisting of an inner sole I1 and an outer sole I8. A groove I9 is provided in the upper surface of the outer sole l8 and is arranged so that it extends from the inner edge of the sole part way across the same under the toes of a foot in the shoe S as indicated in broken lines in Figure 1.

The spindle I0 is rotatably mounted in the groove 19. In the end wall of said groove a bore 20 is provided to receive the journal I l rotatably therein and a washer 2| is securely mounted in groove I9 adjacent to the edge of the sole B. The

washer 2! is provided with a hole 22 arranged so that it is located coaxially with the spindle If]. The spindle l0 extends through the hole 22 and is prevented from sliding axially for instance by means of a pin 22 extending diametrically through the spindle l0 adjacent to the inside surface of the washer 2|.

A transverse slot 23 is provided in the inner sole I1 above the groove 19 so that the finge l5 projects slidabily through said slot.

By the provision of the kerf I2 in the outer end of the spindle 10, a means is provided for faciliitating the turning of the spindle by a suitable implement, such as a screw driver as shown in broken lines in Figure 2, which may be engaged in the kerf. In this manner the finger I5 and the resilient body carried thereby may be moved toward or away from the inside edge of the shoe sole B.

When the shoe S is put on a foot afflicted with a bunion caused by abnormally positionad phalanges of the great toe, the adjuster block consisting of the finger l5 and its soft resilient cover I6 is arranged by means of the spindle l0 so that the finger slides between the great toe and the second toe. The adjusted block is forced against the great toe by means of the spindle to urge the phalanges of the great toe into normal position, away from the second toe. By adjusting the block in time intervals gradually in position to urge the great toe step by step into normal position with respect to the second toe and the rest of the foot, the painful bunion will be reduced and finally eliminated.

It is especially pointed out that the invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact construction and combination of parts shown in the drawing and described in the above specification, but that such changes and modifications can be made, which fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A device for reducing and eliminating a bunion caused on a foot by abnormally shaped and positioned phalanges of the great toe including a sole adapted to be secured to and extending under the foot, a spindle rotatably mounted on the sole at the toe end portion thereof and extending transversely thereof, and an adjuster block mounted on the spindle, extending upwardly therefrom for positioning between the great toe and. the second toe and adapted to be adjusted axially to the spindle.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, the spindle of which is located in a groove provided in the upper surface of the sole at the toe end portion clockwise moving the adjuster block along the thereof and extending part way across the sole spindle.

MAURICE WRIGHT CLARKE.

from the inner edge thereof.

3. An article of footwear including a sole pro- REFERENCES CITED vided with a groove in the upper surface of the 5 toe portion of the sole, a. threade Spindle w The following references are of record in the ably mounted on the sole in the groove, a sleeve file f this patent;

threaded on the spindle, an adjusted block car- UNITED STATES PATENTS ried by and extending upwardly from said sleeve.

and means facilitating the rotationof'the spindle; 10 Number Name; Date rotation of the spindle clockwise or counter 1,554,883 Sahlin Sept; 22, 1925 

